On this page, provide research on Capuzzi and the background of this composition (e.g. when it was composed, for whom, when it was first performed, musical elements to focus on, form of the first movement, etc.) Also feel free to comment on the the video performance of this piece or provide alternate videos or recordings with commentary .
Sandy:
Antonio Capuzzi was a Italian violinist as well as composer
August 1, 1755, Brescia, Italy - March 28, 1818, Bergamo, Italy
Most known pieces of Capuzzi is his ballets and the Double Bass Concerto (most played piece of today)
Cite: Liuzzi, Vitto. "The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Mike Yang
- Double bass concertos are usually performed in three movements
- Due to the low register sound of a bass, it would be hard to project the sound as a soloist, hence making classical and romantic composers reluctant to write bass solos
- The popularity of double bass concertos picked up in the 20th century. This was when the double bass was beginning to be recognized as a solo instrument.
Jackson:
- Capuzzi did not follow the path that other Italian composers chose. While he did travel to London once, he declined a job offer to work in Russia, preferring to stay in his native country. This was strange because almost all Italian composers sought work outside of Italy.
- Capuzzi's work has been all but forgotten in our present age, and is only really known for his Double Bass Concerto from the Dragonetti collection. He created another Bass Concerto, however it was sadly left incomplete.
- Capuzzi did a lot of traveling when he was a middle aged man, and met famous composers such as Joseph Haydn.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi (1755-1818). Three String Quintets, Op.3, Numbers 5, 3 & 6. Cinnabar Records CNB 105." Musicaobscura. N.p., 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.
"Antonio Capuzzi." Antonio Capuzzi. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.
Allan Liu
Capuzzi's double bass concerto was dedicated to Kavalier Marcantonio Montenigo.
Dr. Josef Focht classified this composition as Viennese tuning repertoire, music written for basses tuned to A-D-F#-A.
This concerto is an example of the classical era concerto. It is in three movements: Allegro Moderato, Andante Cantabile and Rondo-Allegro.
The projection of the bass was not a significant problem, since the string orchestra was smartly reduced to 6 violins, 2 cellos, 3 violas and 1 bass. I found the posture of the soloist slightly awkward (he stands and bends over to play).
Brian Liu
This famous concerto is located in the Dragonetti collection, presumably performed by bass virtuoso Dragonetti.
Viennese tuning allowed this piece to be played in two registers: as written or an octave higher.
In some versions, the piece is played in E-flat major. This is achieved by tuning the strings a semitone higher.
The second and third movements of the double bass concerto can also be performed on trombone and tuba.
Even though this concerto is in the key of D major, the first edition was in the key of F major.
Works Cited
"Antonio Capuzzi: Astrology and Horoscope." Astrology: Antonio Capuzzi, Date of Birth: 1755/08/01, Horoscope, Astrological Portrait, Dominant Planets, Birth Data, Biography. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Liuzzi, Vitto. "The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Lucy
This concerto has been in print for about 80 years
Jeffery Koczella was the first suggested that the piece was possibly preformed in a higher transposition
Capuzzi also wrote six quintets for two violas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ArzX1XZr2Q
This version of the bass concerto is performed with piano accompaniment. What stood out to me when watching it was the lack of communication between the pianist and bass player. They never looked at each other. They were playing together, yet visually they seemed separate to me. Evans, Jennifer. "Shepherd School Festival Celebrates Composer Capuzzi." Rice University News & Media. Rice University News & Media, 27 Oct. 2005. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. Liuzzi, Vito. "ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog. Blogger, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015. Pecevski, Igor. "Antonio Capuzzi." Viennese Tuning. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Emma Li
There has only been one surviving manuscript of Capuzzi's double bass concerto. It in now in the British Library.
In 1792, Capuzzi was appointed concertmaster of the Teatro La Fenice, a world-renowned opera house in Venice.
The bass is a difficult to play as a solo instrument, mainly due to the difficulties of balancing the soloist and orchestra so that the soloist is not overshadowed. To help the bass project, many composers would write solos to be played on the higher register of the instrument.
Works Cited "Double Bass Concerto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. "The Double Bass Blog." ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Jason Sohn - This bass concerto is accompaniment which is usually consisted of violins, violas, cellos, basses, horns, and oboes
- This piece requires highly advanced technique for the soloist
- In classical concerto, Orchestra accompaniment is usually played with detached bowing Work Cited
"Antonio Capuzzi." MusOpen. MusOpen, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Double Bass Concerto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Antonio Capuzzi." Antonio Capuzzi. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015. "Double-Bass Concerto (Capuzzi, Antonio)." - IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Kelly
Capuzzi's noted compositions were written in the Venetian period
Capuzzi studied violin with Nazari and composition with Bertoni
Works by Capuzzi were disregarded for about 200 years
In this performance of the bass concerto, there is a chamber orchestra accompaniment. I thought this brought a different feel of balance between the sections because not only is our string orchestra larger, but it does not have any band instruments. As a result, the difference in size and the communications this orchestra has to make that is not present in ours, makes it more interesting and have more depth to the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlFl9kHtZRk
Works Cited
"Andante Rondo." de haske. n.p. n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi." musicaobscura. n.p., 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 May. 2015.
Bethany
Capuzzi studied in Venice and became friends with Domenico Dragonetti (Beethoven's virtuoso bassist) and so it's speculated that Capuzzi wrote his Double Bass Concerto for Dragonetti.
In 1818 at Bergamo, Capuzzi had a heart attack in the middle of a concert and he died nine days after.
He was also highly regarded as a teacher, he was a professor at the Instituto Musicale in Bergamo.
Played by Mr. Zbig who teaches at Université Laval & Cégep de Ste-Foy in Quebec City - added different kinds of ornaments to the piece
Sachs, StepheN W., Dr. Zachary Stafford & Joshua Lee Senior Recitals. Jackson: Belhaven U Department Of Music, 2011. Print. "Andante and Rondo for Tuba, Euphonium or and Piano." Just For Brass. Just For Brass, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Malcolm
A lot of Capuzzi's music (including Double Bass Concerto) has been criticized for lacking expression (adhered strictly to classical conventions of form)
In 1805, Capuzzi reluctantly left Venice for Bergamo, Italy due decay in the city's socio-economic and musical life
Contrary to popular belief, Capuzzi produced a large body work; he composed 18 string quartets, a dozen violin concertos many other work
Works Cited:
White, Chappell. From Vivaldi to Viotti: A History of the Early Classical Violin Concerto. Philadelphia: Gordon and Breach, 1992. Print.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi (1755-1818). Three String Quintets, Op.3, Numbers 5, 3 & 6. Cinnabar Records CNB 105." Musicaobscura. Wordpress.com, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 02 May 2015.
David
- By age 20, Capuzzi was a recognized violin virtuoso. Kenneth Goldsmith, a member of the Rice University faculty, is quoted in having said that "He was known as 'the Orpheus of his age' and is listed by historians as one of the most celebrated Italian violinists of his time"
- Capuzzi was held high to the musicians of his time even in his death, and some even composed works especially in response to Capuzzi's death like Gaetano Donizetti and his Sinfonia in D minor 'On the Death of A. Capuzzi' (Sinfonia per la Morte di Capuzzi) in response to Capuzzi's death.
- The surviving manuscript was donated to the British Library by Dragonetti's friend Vincent Novello in 1849.
CD Content of Camerata Budapest's Recordings of Instrumental Concerti by Baetano Donizetti. Marco Polo, 1994. Web. 2 May 2015. <http://cdn1.orastream.com/pdf/730099370127.pdf> Kenneth Goldsmith - Faculty Information System - Scholarly Interest Report. 2008. Rice University. Web. 2 May 2015.
Liuzzi, Vito. "ANTONIO CAPUZZI: Concerto in D major or F major." The Double Bass Blog. 10 Jan. 2015. Blogger. Web. 2 May 2015.
Talia
At the time Capuzzi's Double Bass Concerto was written, many double basses would have only had three strings, instead of four or five like today.
There is another version of this concerto, written for only piano and double bass with no orchestral accompaniment.
Concertos are usually performed with the soloist situated in front of the orchestra to help their sound be heard above the orchestra; this contrast between the sound of one soloist verses united orchestra gives the concerto a unique sound.
The following is a video of a performance of Capuzzi's Double Bass Concerto for piano and double bass with no orchestral accompaniment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prbW7M3MyaA
This contrasts the orchestral version, with a different balance of instruments, and provides a different overall effect of the piece.
Works Cited "Double Bass." New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia, 23 August 2013. Web. 6 May 2015.
Svanoe, Erika. "Classical Concerto." Study.com. n.p., 2015. Web. 6 May 2015.
Daniel
It is known that Capuzzi traveled extensively during his important career.
Capuzzi's incomplete bass concerto is located in the collections of the City of Split library, Croatia.
In 1796, Capuzzi produced a famous ballet called La villageoise enlevée in London
Works Cited White, Chappell. "Capuzzi, Giuseppe Antonio (1755 - 1818), Violinist, Composer : Grove Music Online - Oi." Capuzzi, Giuseppe Antonio (1755 - 1818), Violinist, Composer : Grove Music Online - Oi. Volume Grove Music Online, Jan. 2001. Web. 06 May 2015.
Eric - The first movement is a textbook example of classical sonata form with double exposition: the orchestra introduces the main theme proceeded by the soloist - In the development section, the piece ventures into various minor keys and explores different themes - The main theme returns at the end with the so-called recapitulation
Sandy:
Cite: Liuzzi, Vitto. "The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
here is the classical Rondo by Capuzzi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzHzWSh6qr4
Mike Yang
- Double bass concertos are usually performed in three movements
- Due to the low register sound of a bass, it would be hard to project the sound as a soloist, hence making classical and romantic composers reluctant to write bass solos
- The popularity of double bass concertos picked up in the 20th century. This was when the double bass was beginning to be recognized as a solo instrument.
Jackson:
- Capuzzi did not follow the path that other Italian composers chose. While he did travel to London once, he declined a job offer to work in Russia, preferring to stay in his native country. This was strange because almost all Italian composers sought work outside of Italy.
- Capuzzi's work has been all but forgotten in our present age, and is only really known for his Double Bass Concerto from the Dragonetti collection. He created another Bass Concerto, however it was sadly left incomplete.
- Capuzzi did a lot of traveling when he was a middle aged man, and met famous composers such as Joseph Haydn.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi (1755-1818). Three String Quintets, Op.3, Numbers 5, 3 & 6. Cinnabar Records CNB 105." Musicaobscura. N.p., 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.
"Antonio Capuzzi." Antonio Capuzzi. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.
Allan Liu
Works Cited
"Antonio Capuzzi." MusOpen. MusOpen, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
"Double-Bass Concerto (Capuzzi, Antonio)." IMSLP. IMSLP, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
Pecevski, Igor. "Antonio Capuzzi." Viennese Tuning. n.p., 11 Apr. 2004. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
The projection of the bass was not a significant problem, since the string orchestra was smartly reduced to 6 violins, 2 cellos, 3 violas and 1 bass. I found the posture of the soloist slightly awkward (he stands and bends over to play).
Brian Liu
Works Cited
Pecevski, Igor. "Antonia Capuzzi." N.p., 11 Apr. 2004. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
Here is a link to the 2nd and 3rd movement of the concerto. I enjoyed the 3rd movement the most. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRmHQUVOmJI
Andrew Santos
Works Cited
"Antonio Capuzzi: Astrology and Horoscope." Astrology: Antonio Capuzzi, Date of Birth: 1755/08/01, Horoscope, Astrological Portrait, Dominant Planets, Birth Data, Biography. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Liuzzi, Vitto. "The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog - " Il Contrabbasso ": ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Lucy
- This concerto has been in print for about 80 years
- Jeffery Koczella was the first suggested that the piece was possibly preformed in a higher transposition
- Capuzzi also wrote six quintets for two violas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ArzX1XZr2QThis version of the bass concerto is performed with piano accompaniment. What stood out to me when watching it was the lack of communication between the pianist and bass player. They never looked at each other. They were playing together, yet visually they seemed separate to me.
Evans, Jennifer. "Shepherd School Festival Celebrates Composer Capuzzi." Rice University News & Media. Rice University News & Media, 27 Oct. 2005. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Liuzzi, Vito. "ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major." The Double Bass Blog. Blogger, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Pecevski, Igor. "Antonio Capuzzi." Viennese Tuning. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Emma Li
A recording of Andante & Rondo, a tuba solo written by Capuzzi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4BkAfM1AXs
Works Cited
"Double Bass Concerto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"The Double Bass Blog." ANTONIO CAPUZZI : Concerto in D Major or F Major. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Jason Sohn
- This bass concerto is accompaniment which is usually consisted of violins, violas, cellos, basses, horns, and oboes
- This piece requires highly advanced technique for the soloist
- In classical concerto, Orchestra accompaniment is usually played with detached bowing
Work Cited
"Antonio Capuzzi." MusOpen. MusOpen, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Double Bass Concerto." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
Performance with Piano:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noxwI_7hPew
Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ArzX1XZr2Q
"Antonio Capuzzi." Antonio Capuzzi. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
"Double-Bass Concerto (Capuzzi, Antonio)." - IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Kelly
In this performance of the bass concerto, there is a chamber orchestra accompaniment. I thought this brought a different feel of balance between the sections because not only is our string orchestra larger, but it does not have any band instruments. As a result, the difference in size and the communications this orchestra has to make that is not present in ours, makes it more interesting and have more depth to the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlFl9kHtZRk
Works Cited
"Andante Rondo." de haske. n.p. n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi." musicaobscura. n.p., 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 07 May. 2015.
Bethany
Played by Mr. Zbig who teaches at Université Laval & Cégep de Ste-Foy in Quebec City
- added different kinds of ornaments to the piece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztkcw15NbT0&spfreload=10
Sachs, StepheN W., Dr. Zachary Stafford & Joshua Lee Senior Recitals. Jackson: Belhaven U Department Of Music, 2011. Print.
"Andante and Rondo for Tuba, Euphonium or and Piano." Just For Brass. Just For Brass, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Malcolm
Works Cited:
White, Chappell. From Vivaldi to Viotti: A History of the Early Classical Violin Concerto. Philadelphia: Gordon and Breach, 1992. Print.
"Giuseppe Antonio Capuzzi (1755-1818). Three String Quintets, Op.3, Numbers 5, 3 & 6. Cinnabar Records CNB 105." Musicaobscura. Wordpress.com, 01 Nov. 2012. Web. 02 May 2015.
David
- By age 20, Capuzzi was a recognized violin virtuoso. Kenneth Goldsmith, a member of the Rice University faculty, is quoted in having said that "He was known as 'the Orpheus of his age' and is listed by historians as one of the most celebrated Italian violinists of his time"
- Capuzzi was held high to the musicians of his time even in his death, and some even composed works especially in response to Capuzzi's death like Gaetano Donizetti and his Sinfonia in D minor 'On the Death of A. Capuzzi' (Sinfonia per la Morte di Capuzzi) in response to Capuzzi's death.
- The surviving manuscript was donated to the British Library by Dragonetti's friend Vincent Novello in 1849.
In this second bass concerto, I would examine how the bassist and the pianist interact with each other: Vanhal's Double Bass Concerto in D Major
CD Content of Camerata Budapest's Recordings of Instrumental Concerti by Baetano Donizetti. Marco Polo, 1994. Web. 2 May 2015. <http://cdn1.orastream.com/pdf/730099370127.pdf>
Kenneth Goldsmith - Faculty Information System - Scholarly Interest Report. 2008. Rice University. Web. 2 May 2015.
Liuzzi, Vito. "ANTONIO CAPUZZI: Concerto in D major or F major." The Double Bass Blog. 10 Jan. 2015. Blogger. Web. 2 May 2015.
Talia
The following is a video of a performance of Capuzzi's Double Bass Concerto for piano and double bass with no orchestral accompaniment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prbW7M3MyaA
This contrasts the orchestral version, with a different balance of instruments, and provides a different overall effect of the piece.
Works Cited
"Double Bass." New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia, 23 August 2013. Web. 6 May 2015.
Svanoe, Erika. "Classical Concerto." Study.com. n.p., 2015. Web. 6 May 2015.
Daniel
Works Cited
White, Chappell. "Capuzzi, Giuseppe Antonio (1755 - 1818), Violinist, Composer : Grove Music Online - Oi." Capuzzi, Giuseppe Antonio (1755 - 1818), Violinist, Composer : Grove Music Online - Oi. Volume Grove Music Online, Jan. 2001. Web. 06 May 2015.
Eric
- The first movement is a textbook example of classical sonata form with double exposition: the orchestra introduces the main theme proceeded by the soloist
- In the development section, the piece ventures into various minor keys and explores different themes
- The main theme returns at the end with the so-called recapitulation